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DOWNTOWN
POST NYC
News and Events
in Lower Manhattan
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Volume 6,
No.
22, June 3, 2020
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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"The past is hidden somewhere outside the realm, beyond the reach of intellect."
- Marcel Proust describing the power of sensory memory
WEATHER INFORMATION: For current weather information,
click here.
COVID-19 CASES IN NEW YORK CITY: As of June 2 at 3:14 p.m.
1,004,139 tested * 201,123 confirmed cases * 21,649 deaths
Go to
www.DowntownPostNYC.com for breaking news and for updated information on facility closures related to COVID-19
MASTHEAD PHOTO: A display depicting a slave burial at the African Burial Ground National Monument in Lower Manhattan. Between 1650 and 1795, around 15,000 people were buried there. Most of them were enslaved Africans. The African Burial Ground was uncovered in 1991 when the General Services Administration decided to build federal offices at 290 Broadway. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Burial Ground closed on March 17, 2020 and will remain closed until further notice. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer 2014)
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It was almost midnight on May 31. I was sitting at my desk, trying to work on Downtown Post NYC but distracted. Through my partially open window, I could hear the incessant buzz of helicopters and the wail of sirens. A panic attack swept over me. Those sounds. The helicopters. The sirens. They had picked me up and flung me back to September 2001 when I lived in Greenwich Village, one mile due north of the World Trade Center. I saw the Twin Towers burning from my doorstep. For months after the towers were destroyed, I heard nothing in my neighborhood except sirens, helicopters and tolling bells.
That was almost 19 years ago! Get over it! No. That's not how it works. Trauma can be erased from the conscious mind but it lingers elsewhere in memory and in the body. That's exactly what Marcel Proust described in "Remembrance of Things Past" ("A la recherche du temps perdu") when he dipped a madeleine into a cup of tea and because of that sensory memory, was thrust back in an instant to Combray, the place where he lived when he was young. "The past is hidden somewhere outside the realm, beyond the reach of intellect," he wrote, "in some material object (in the sensation which that material object will give us) which we do not suspect."
I talked to some acquaintances about their experiences on the nights of May 31 and June 1 when the helicopters buzzed all night long and looting was rampant. One woman said that it reminded her of her childhood in Los Angeles when looters destroyed her father's store. She spoke of this hesitantly. She said that she hadn't thought about it in a long time. She was clearly bothered by the memory. Another woman said that it made her think of the looting and arson that took place in New York City during the blackout of 1977. That occurred during an economic downturn and a brutal heat wave. Over the course of two days, almost 4,000 people were arrested.
I know that many people who still live in Lower Manhattan experienced the trauma of 9/11. It will never leave them. Windows were shattered and stores were looted on the nights of May 31 and June 1, but more than glass was broken. Psyches are more fragile than glass and harder to mend. The collateral damage from the criminal behavior in Lower Manhattan was not as visible as a smashed store window but just as real.
Terese Loeb Kreuzer
Editor
Downtown Post NYC's website (www.DowntownPostNYC.com) is updated daily. That's the place to check for urgent messages, breaking news and reminders of interesting events in and around Lower Manhattan. So be sure to look at the website every day, especially if you want to know about breaking news.
Downtown Post NYC on Facebook: On its Facebook page, Downtown Post NYC has been providing information about the time of Governor Andrew Cuomo's daily press briefings and how to access them. DPNYC has also been highlighting some of Gov. Cuomo's announcements concerning COVID-19 statistics, reopening of various parts of the state for business and executive orders. Go to Downtown Post NYC's Facebook page by
clicking here.
HOW TO SUPPORT DOWNTOWN POST NYC: I made Downtown Post NYC free to subscribers so that no one who was interested in reading it would be excluded because of cost. Downtown Post NYC is largely supported by advertising revenue. In addition, some people have made contributions, which are much appreciated. For more information about how to contribute or advertise, email
editor@downtownpostnyc.com.
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 'WE ARE ONE,' A FREE, ONLINE FILM FESTIVAL, SHOWCASES
FILMS FROM TWENTY MAJOR FESTIVALS AROUND THE GLOBE
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Robert De Niro, founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, speaking before the screening of the 2018 Festival's final film, "The Fourth Estate," about how The New York Times covered the campaign and election of Donald Trump. Tribeca Enterprises, which organized the We Are One Film Festival, is the parent company of the Tribeca Film Festival.
(Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer 2018)
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No one who loves art, music and film need feel bored while quarantined at home by Covid-19. In fact, there aren't enough hours in the day to take in all that is being offered on the Internet. Currently, a free film festival called "We Are One" is playing via YouTube.com with programming from 20 film festivals some of which you have undoubtedly heard of and some that you probably haven't.
Here, for instance, you will find films from the Berlin International Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, the New York Film Festival, Sundance, the Tokyo International Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, the Tribeca Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival. There are also films from festivals in Guadalajara, Macao, Jerusalem, Mumbai and more.
Most of the films would probably not have met with commercial success in movie theaters but they are, nevertheless, a riveting and sometimes haunting window on the cultures of the filmmakers.
The films vary in length and in genre. Some are just three minutes long. Others are feature length. There are documentaries, dramas, animated films and shorts as well as conversations with filmmakers.
Some of the films, judged by the description in the play list, are relevant to current events. How about this, for instance? A feature film called "Amreeka" which can be viewed beginning at 1:15 p.m. on June 5 is described as being about "a Palestinian single mom
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"Nasir," presented by the Mumbai Film Festival
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and her teenage son" who emigrate to a small town in Illinois, dreaming of an exciting future, but instead encounter racism. Or this from the Mumbai Film Festival? In a feature film called "Nasir," "an ordinary day unfolds for a warmhearted street salesman in southern India as he tries to make a loving home for his family while warding off the anti-Muslim sentiment of his neighbors." This film starts on June 6 at 9:30 a.m.
We Are One was organized by Tribeca Enterprises, a multi-platform storytelling company established in 2003 in Lower Manhattan by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal. YouTube, the co-sponsor of the festival, was launched in 2005 to allow people to watch and share originally created videos.
Although We Are One is free, viewers can, if they wish, support local communities by directly donating to organizations helping the relief efforts for those affected by Covid-19. The festival will also enable contributions to the World Health Organization (WHO).
For a complete list of the films in the festival,
click here.
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Downtown Post Food and Dining
POPULAR FOOD FESTIVAL, DINE AROUND DOWNTOWN, WILL HAVE
A CHEF-LED, COOK-AT-HOME EDITION THIS YEAR STARTING JUNE 11
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| In 1837, the Swiss-born Delmonico brothers opened the first fine dining restaurant in the United States. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer 2014) |
For almost two decades, Dine Around Downtown has been an eagerly awaited lunchtime food festival produced by the Downtown Alliance that allowed thousands of people to stroll from booth to booth, sampling offerings from an ever larger number of Lower Manhattan restaurants. However, this year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic that forced restaurants to close and furlough or lay off their staffs, the Alliance has created a Cooking at Home edition that will raise money for the local restaurant community.
Rocco DiSpirito, celebrity chef and cookbook author, will act as host to three Lower Manhattan chefs as they demonstrate easy-to-replicate dishes from their restaurants.
The series will launch on June 11 with recipes from Delmonico's, America's first fine-dining restaurant, located since 1837 at the intersection of Beaver, William and South William Streets in the Financial District. Executive chef Billy Oliva will demonstrate how to make a pan-roasted ribeye steak accompanied by roasted corn and shrimp salad. Next, on June 25, Michele Iuliano, co-owner and chef of Gnoccheria at 100 Broad St. will show participants how to make fresh hand-rolled gnocchi with three sauces: pesto, sorrentina and quatro formaggi. Finally, on July 9, Einat Admony, chef and co-owner of Taïm at 75 Maiden Lane, will call on her upbringing in Israel as she makes eggplant sabich salad and cauliflower shwarma. All of these events start at 4 p.m.
The series is free to join via Zoom but registration is required and limited. If they wish, participants can donate to a fund of the restaurants' choice, which will support their staff and/or local food supply charities.
Pre-register here: downtownny.com/dinearound
This project, created by the non-profit Alliance for Downtown New York, is one of many things that the Alliance is doing to support businesses that have been adversely impacted by the spread of Covid-19.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RELATING TO NYC'S CURFEW,
EFFECTIVE THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 7 FROM 8 P.M. TO 5 A.M. DAILY
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| An NYPD helicopter hovering over Lower Manhattan. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer 2020) |
Through June 7, 2020, a curfew will be observed in New York City between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Here are some questions and answers pertaining to the curfew:
I am an essential worker. Can I travel to my job?
Yes, workers who are performing essential work are permitted to travel to/from work and to be in public while performing their job duties. Essential work is work that is permitted under Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) guidance.
I am a health care worker. Can I go to work?
Yes. Health care workers are essential under ESDC guidance.
I work for the City. Can I go to work during the curfew?
Yes.
I am a member of the press. Can I be in public during the curfew?
Yes, if you are performing your job. News media are essential under
ESDC guidance.
Can restaurants make deliveries during the curfew?
Yes. Food deliveries are essential under the ESDC guidance.
Can my 24-hour grocery store stay open?
Can my 24-hour grocery store receive deliveries during the curfew?
Yes. Essential businesses may remain open. The curfew only bars people who are not performing essential work from being in public from 8pm to 5am.
Will public transportation and for-hire vehicles be available during the curfew?
Yes. Transportation infrastructure such as bus, rail, and for-hire vehicles are essential under the ESDC guidance.
I am an essential worker. Can I stop by the deli/grocery/etc. to pick up food during my meal break?
Yes. If you are an essential worker and your meal break falls at some point between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., you can pick up food from an essential business that sells food such as a restaurant or grocery store.
I am an essential worker who just got off work. Can I travel anywhere other than my home?
During the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., you are only permitted to travel from your home to your place of work and back home. However, if necessary, you may also stop to obtain medical supplies/prescriptions before and/or after work.
I am an essential worker going to/from work. What sort of ID must I show if I am stopped?
There are no specific requirements for ID. A work ID, a business card, any other official documents, or even a work uniform will suffice to show that you are an essential worker.
I work in a non-essential industry/business. Can I travel to/from my workplace? Can I perform my work in public?
No.
I need medical attention during the curfew. May I leave to seek treatment?
Yes. You can and should seek medical treatment or supplies during the curfew.
I need emergency medical treatment during the curfew, what should I do?
Call 911. EMTs and first responders will continue to operate as usual.
Can I take my dog outside to use the bathroom?
Yes, but only in the immediate vicinity of your residence. Dogs should be exercised outside of curfew hours.
What happens if I violate this curfew?
We fully expect that all New Yorkers will cooperate in the interest of public safety.
For the very few individuals that refuse to cooperate and do not fall within the exempted categories, they will be given every opportunity to return home. Only if an individual continuously refuses to do so will additional enforcement action be considered, including but not limited to fines.
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ASSISTANCE WITH
Disaster Loans & Grants
Unemployment Assistance - available for W2 and Schedule C clients
Mandated additional sick pay and associated tax credit
Paycheck Protection Program; Extended tax loss carry-backs
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Downtown bulletin board
SUMMER DAY CAMPS CAN REOPEN; DENTAL OFFICES REOPEN
IN NEW YORK STATE; HOW TO REPORT POLICE ABUSE
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| Summer day camps can reopen statewide on June 29. (Photo: ©Terese Loeb Kreuzer 2015) |
How to report police abuse: If you witness police abuse in person or see footage on social media, you can file a complaint with the City's Civilian Complaint Review Board at
nyc.gov/ccrbcomplaint or (800) 341-CCRB.
New York State Attorney General James, who is conducting an investigation of the George Floyd protests, asks that any information, including visuals, be shared with her office as they proceed with that investigation. Email:
complaints@ag.ny.gov.
Dental offices can open: On May 31, 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that New York dentists can reopen statewide on June 1. Dentists' offices will be subject to state guidance on best practices for safety and social distancing.
Register to vote: June 23, 2020 is the date for the New York State primary election.
In order to vote for a candidate in the primary election, you must be registered to the political party for whose candidate you wish to vote. People who are registered as Independents can't vote in the primary election. Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an Executive Order to ensure New Yorkers can vote by absentee ballot in the June 23rd elections.
Click here to find your poll site and/or to register to vote by mail.
Click here to register to vote.
For answers to frequently asked questions,
click here.
Voting by mail in New York State: To apply for an absentee ballot, click on the link below and type in your name, address and date of birth. Check the "temporary illness" box to indicate that the coronavirus is the reason you're applying.
The early voting period begins on June 13 and ends on June 21.
https://tinyurl.com/ybhmy5eq
Summer day camps statewide can open on June 29th. The state will make a decision on sleep-away camps in the coming weeks.
New York State loan program for small businesses: New York State has launched a $100+ million loan program for small businesses. The loan program will focus on supporting small businesses that were less likely to receive federal loans, especially women and minority-owned businesses, and very small businesses with 20 or fewer employees. For more information,
click here.
Health insurance in New York State: You can still enroll for health insurance on the New York health plan marketplace. If you lost your job or health coverage, or are uninsured, you can enroll in a plan today at
nystateofhealth.ny.gov. You may also qualify for health care coverage from Medicaid or Child Health Plus through the marketplace.
New York City needs blood donors: The New York City Blood Center has sent out an SOS that states that "the need for blood has rebounded to pre-COVID-19 levels but the blood supply is dangerously low. Donors can call 800-933-2566 for information or schedule an appointment online." The New York City Blood Center is one of the largest independent, community-based, non-profit blood centers in the United States. For more information,
click here.
United States Census 2020 is hiring: The 2020 U.S. Census will require a massive effort to document everyone in the country. The U.S. government is hiring census workers with a promise of "great pay, flexible hours, weekly pay and paid training." The jobs include census taker, recruiting assistant, office clerk, and supervisory staff. Applications can be made online at
2020census.gov/jobs. For more information, call 855-JOB-2020.
Most of the Downtown Post NYC bulletin board listings are now on the Downtown Post NYC website. To see the bulletin board listings,
click here.
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HOW TO FORWARD DOWNTOWN POST NYC
If you would like to forward this email click the button below. Please do not forward this email in any other way, or your name may be automatically dropped from the subscription list. (That's how this email service works.) Thank you!
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Downtown Post NYC is emailed to subscribers twice a week.
Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer
All articles and photographs in Downtown Post NYC are copyrighted and
may not be reprinted or republished without written permission.
© 2020
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